• Acts 8:36
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 36 ὡς As δὲ but ἐπορεύοντο they were going κατὰ down τὴν the ὁδόν, way, ἦλθον they came ἐπί upon τι some ὕδωρ, water, καί and φησιν says ὁ the εὐνοῦχος eunuch Ἰδοὺ Look! ὕδωρ· Water; τί what κωλύει is preventing με me βαπτισθῆναι; to be baptized?

  • Acts 8:36
    King James Version

    • 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

  • Acts Study Notes—Chapter 8
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 8:36

      getting baptized: Or “being immersed.” The Greek word ba·ptiʹzo means “to dip; to plunge.” The context indicates that baptism involves complete immersion. If pouring or sprinkling water were all that was needed, it would not have been necessary for the eunuch to halt his chariot at a body of water. Although it cannot be determined whether this was a river, a stream, or a pond, the account says that “both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water.” (Ac 8:38) Other Biblical references agree with the idea that being baptized means being totally immersed in a body of water. For example, Jesus was baptized in a river, the Jordan. Also, on one occasion John the Baptist chose a location in the Jordan Valley near Salim to baptize people “because there was a great quantity of water there.” (Joh 3:23) It is worth noting that the Greek word ba·ptiʹzo is used in the Septuagint at 2Ki 5:14 when recounting how Naaman “plunged into the Jordan seven times.” Further, the Scriptures equate baptism with burial, indicating that a person who is baptized is completely submerged.​—Ro 6:4-6; Col 2:12.